Donovan Scores in Bayern Friendly Win

Bayern Munich won its second straight winter break friendly last night, beating Al-Wehda 3-1 in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Making his second appearance for the Bavarian juggernaut, American Landon Donovan came on as a second half replacement for Luca Toni at forward.

Goals by Frank Ribery and Tim Borowski in the first half had the visitors up 2-0 before Al-Wehda’s Al-Kuwaikabi made a brilliant carry through the Bayern defense to slot home a 53rd minute goal to make it 2-1.

Both sides produced more scoring chances as Donovan had a few shots go wide in the 50th and 66th minutes. In the 59th minute, he made a dangerous header which glanced off the woodwork. It was not until injury time that Donovan sealed it for Bayern, collecting a high ball 16 meters out with his back to the goal, then quickly turning and firing a hard shot low and left past the keeper for his first goal in a Bayern jersey.

One bit of concern for Bayern was the apparent injury of Mark Van Bommel in last night as he limped off the field with a knee inujury. But, not long after the team landed in Munich this morning, it was confirmed that his injury is not serious and that he’ll only miss 3-4 days of training.

Donovan and Bayern will now resume training in icy Bavaria in preparation for their German Cup match against Stuttgart on the 27th, followed by a match at Hamburger SV on the 30th.